Walking is the way many people get around in downtown Bellevue, and as the number of downtown residents and workers grows, more and more people will choose to walk -- to work, shopping, transit and recreation. The public is invited to join city planners on Thursday and Saturday for a series of conversations and walks downtown to help the city identify ways to improve the pedestrian experience.

Findings from the walks will be used in the Downtown Transportation Plan Update, a comprehensive look at transportation strategy to accommodate expected growth downtown over the next two decades.

Each walk will take about 90 minutes and begin with a short presentation by Feet First, a Seattle-based walking advocacy group, to describe the purpose of the walk and how to contribute ideas. If it's raining, participants should bring rain gear or an umbrella; the walks will go rain or shine.

At lunch-time on Thursday the walking tour will cover the central part of downtown, focusing on a sample of destinations for lunch, shopping, transit or errands. The presentation will begin at 11:45 a.m. Sign-up will be in the lower lobby of the Key Center Tower at the northwest corner of Northeast Sixth Street and 108th Avenue Northeast, across from the Transit Center. The walk will wrap up by 1:15 p.m.

The Saturday walk will follow a route on the north side of downtown. Residents are invited to share their experiences walking downtown. The overview will be at 9 a.m. at Top Pot Doughnuts (10600 NE Ninth Pl.), and the walk will conclude at 10:30.